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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 120 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  2. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  3. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  4. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  5. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  6. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  7. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  8. The tickets are free of ________________.
  9. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  10. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  11. There's no middle ________________.
  12. He is an ace ________________.
  13. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  14. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  15. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  16. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  17. The ________________ market has crashed.
  18. That must've been a ________________.
  19. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  20. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  21. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  22. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  23. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  24. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. ground — the earth
  2. ground — crushed
  3. craft — a skill
  4. march — the month
  5. rush — to hurry
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. march — the month
  8. charge — a price
  9. rush — hurry
  10. craft — boats
  11. ground — a position
  12. pitcher — in baseball
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. stock — a soup base
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. charge — in control
  17. stock — shares
  18. rush — a thrill
  19. stock — goods
  20. march — music
  21. charge — electricity
  22. mouse — for a computer
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. craft — a handicraft

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com